We're hopeful the health department will be able to determine the cause of the E. coli outbreak. --Bill Marler

PHOENIX, AZ (PRWEB)August 05, 2013

Marler Clark, the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of foodborne illness, filed an E. coli lawsuit today against the owners of the Litchfield Park, Arizona Federico’s Mexican Restaurant. The lawsuit alleges that plaintiff Bryan Clayton is one of at least of over a dozen people who fell ill with E. coli infections after eating at the restaurant in July. Mr. Clayton is also represented by Phoenix attorney Jonathan O’Steen of O’Steen & Harrison.

According to the complaint filed in Maricopa County Superior Court (Cause No. CV2013-010619), Bryan Clayton ate food purchased from the Federico’s restaurant on July 27 and July 29, 2013. Mr. Clayton alleges he began experiencing symptoms of E. coli infection, including severe abdominal cramps and diarrhea on July 30 and sought medical care on July 31 after his symptoms worsened. The complaint states that Mr. Clayton went to the emergency room, where he was treated for dehydration and released on August 1, that he continued to experience severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including grossly bloody bouts of diarrhea, and was later admitted to West Valley Hospital for further treatment. Mr. Clayton remains hospitalized.

On Friday, the Maricopa County Health Department issued an announcement [1] that the Federico’s restaurant was closing during an E. coli outbreak investigation; at least 11 of 15 individuals with bloody diarrhea had reported eating food purchased from the Federico’s restaurant in the days before becoming ill.

“Although we know that the source of the infections is Federico’s, we’re hopeful the health department will be able to determine the cause of the E. coli outbreak,” said attorney William Marler. “These outbreaks can be caused by any number of things: contaminated produce, cross-contamination or ill food workers are all viable possibilities.”

The Arizona Republic reported Monday that at 8 people had been hospitalized with E. coli infections during the outbreak. The Federico’s restaurant location is reportedly scheduled to re-open.

BACKGROUND: Marler Clark has represented thousands of victims of foodborne illness since 1993. The law firm is currently litigating cases stemming from hepatitis A, Salmonella, E. coli and other foodborne illness outbreaks across the country.